In the 14-year period of 2005 through 2018, canines killed 471 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (311) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

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Police Issue Bullet Bounces off Pit Bull's Head

Knock Triggers Attack Cortez, CO - It was reported that after Macing one of two pit bulls that attacked a woman, deputies then used a "bite sleeve" to help guide the second dog away. When that failed, deputies shot at the pit bull, but the bullet "ricocheted" off its skull. It would be interesting to know how often a police issue bullet, shot from a police issue firearm, bounces off a dog's head instead of penetrating it. The unlucky victim, Nancy Thomas, suffered a fractured wrist and "a lot of stitches."

"The Montezuma County Sheriff's Office said Nancy Thomas went to visit her friend, Jonathan Wilson, on CR 29 outside of Cortez Wednesday morning.They said when she knocked on the door, Wilson's two pit bulls attacked.Wilson's girlfriend called 911 and Action 7 News obtained the tapes."What's wrong?" the dispatcher asked."This lady came over to tell us something and my boyfriend's dogs attacked her," Wilson's girlfriend said."Ok, does she need an ambulance?" the dispatcher asked."Yes she does right away," Wilson's girlfriend said. "I brought her into my house to get the dogs off of her.""Where are the dogs right now?" the dispatcher asked."They're outside, I'm scared to go outside," Wilson's girlfriend said.Deputies arrived within minutes.They said the dogs would not allow them near the house."He tried everything, he Maced the dog, one of the dogs ran away, the other dog just stayed there, he even took his training bite sleeve out to help get the dog to bite so he could guide it away," Montezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace said.Wallace said deputies shot at the dog, but the bullet ricocheted off its skull, scaring it enough to run away."

The article also reported that Wilson had both dogs euthanized after attacking his friend, who had unwittingly knocked on his door. Wilson was cited with misdemeanor ownership of a vicious animal.

10 thoughts on “Police Issue Bullet Bounces off Pit Bull's Head”

Just curious, what other breeds of canines (than PB and Rottwielers) are able to have a police issue 9MM bullet, fired at point blank, bounce off their skull, and walk away? It should be noted that police issue Glock 9MM’s can only fire jacketed bullets, which makes this even more amazing…yet we read about it weekly – where pit bulls are completely unfazed by direct point blank shots to the head !!!

Pit bull owners afraid of their own dogs! The girlfriend — who presumably knew the animals — was too afraid to go outside! Who knows where the dog owner was? If he was home at the time, it doesn’t sound like he helped the victim.

Is it just me, or do pit attacks seem to be escalating? Seriously. Maybe it’s just the evil media playing tricks on me. Maybe it’s the evil pit people that have infiltrated the inner workings of society in order to keep these killers living among us. Seriously. I’m terrified of these bullet-proof beasts!

I am not entirely convinced that these pit bulls are being shot “dead on at point blank range”, even by the police. Trying to hit a threatening, small, fast moving object with teeth, with your adrenaline pumping is much harder than you realize. If the angle of the bullet is just right, I think it would graze just about any skull.

Regarding police issue guns and ammo, I am pretty sure that they vary. Standard issue side arm for my police dept. is a .40 caliber. And that size pistol seems to be the most commonly used in police departments although 9 mm and .45 are also used. Also the police are not prohibited from using hollow points, only the military. The decision to use hollow point or full metal jacket is left to the department and maybe even the individual officer.

Advice for shooting any threatening dog is the same for human threats, try to hit center mass. Aiming for something so small as eyes and ears even on a stationary object will probably get you mauled, unless of course you are Annie Oakley.

“A Cortez woman received severe injuries this week from being attacked by two pit bulls while on a neighbor’s property.

Nancy Thomas was hospitalized Wednesday morning for treatment of major flesh wounds and a possible bone fracture at Southwest Memorial Hospital as a result of the mauling, according to Montezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace.

The sheriff said Thomas was knocking on a neighbor’s door at midmorning Wednesday along County Road 29 when two nonrestrained pit bulls circled around the home and attacked her. An owner of the dogs helped Thomas inside the home and immediately called 911.

“It was a nasty situation,” Wallace said. “She received superficial wounds and a possible wrist fracture.”

Wallace noted Thursday that Thomas was recovering from flesh injuries to her hands, arms and neck.

A canine handler from the sheriff’s office was forced to shoot one of the pit bulls when responding to the scene of the attack, Wallace said. The shot did not kill the dog, which tried to attack the officer when he was attempting to enter the property, the sheriff said.

Jonathon Wilson, the neighbor who owned the pit bulls, was cited for unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog, a misdemeanor offense, Wallace said. One pit bull was a male and the other a female, and both have been euthanized…”